Original things for original people.

Tag Archives: sale

So in amidst of cleaning, I finally sorted out my scrap paper box and got it organized. I think that is the second hardest thing to organized in my little art space. Stamps are still number one. However you will be happy to hear that I finished going through the wooden stamps and gave the ones that I don’t used anymore to my friend J. She really loves me now. But I digress again.

So last Monday, I picked up the scrap paper box as I have done before several times. Except this time, something happened. I pulled a muscle in my back. Ouch is right. So after my shower, I took a couple of muscle relaxers and the worst case with them, I ended up talking to furniture.

Well not this time, I ended up being sick as a dog for the next three days. Although I am kind of thinking that it might have been stress that made me sick. I have been dealing with stress of my boyfriend’s daughter health problems, orders and now with Halloween coming up. And the biggest stress is the upcoming sales in Bentley. As usual, I have that little voice in my head telling me that I don’t have enough. I know, I know, “Lesley, stop listening to the voices in your head.”

Finally Friday, I dragged myself out of bed and went out to pick up some rubber cement for mail art. My back is still sore, but very SLOWLY getting better. It is testing my patience again. And I can’t work on my cards or albums until my back is better because I am constantly bending down and picking up stuff. I can however knit and crochet so I am working on a scarf right now. But I want to paint and do some mail art. I know, I know, I am never happy.

With the internet growing bigger and bigger everyday. And Big Brother seem to be more and more intrusive, our privacy seems to diminish. I started to wonder of how much do I allow myself to be expose?

With Original Things, I do post pictures of what I am made or working, and when and where my sales are. If I don’t do that, then I don’t make a sale. That is common sense. That I understand.

And yes, I have posted a few personal details of my life in this blog. But how much do I open myself up to the world while still retaining my privacy?

My boyfriend forbid me to show pictures of his children on this site or any other site. I can show pictures of what I made for them, but that is about it. If I do post pictures of children, I admitted, I lied about them. I lied about their age, where they lived, everything. Even when I post about my friends, I always posted their first initial.

However several of the artists had told me I need to expose myself even more in order to make my business work. And that is what is perplexes me. How much can I expose myself without getting into trouble?

Many years ago, Geraldo Rivera exposed child sex ring where the molesters would post pornographic pictures of their victims, children on the internet to share. He basically said that it was going to haunt the victims in years to come. A perfect example, he gave was if one of them was going to run for office, someone can easily google his name and boom, there are the pictures. His career and life is over before it even began.

That has stuck with me ever since. I am DEFINATELY NOTa child molester or any other monster like that. However I am born with a condition called achondroplasia dwarfism, which means I am a little person or midget. By the way, I freaking HATE that word midget. I had a MySpace page where I did actually posted a picture of myself and holy catfish, I had several offers of men wanting to have sex with me. Not because I was pretty, or kind or I make the best fudge. It was because they all had a midget sex fantasy. Seriously I don’t get that fetish.

Several month ago, a group of teenage girls wanted a selfie with me, and take a big guess why? Yup, because I am little person. To be honest, I was very grateful that my boyfriend wasn’t there with me because trust me, he would have chewed them out.

Which is why I am extremely hesitated of showing my face online. I rather have my work speak for itself. Does it really matter that I am short, that I have dark hair or blonde. Or my eyes are brown or blue?

I know it has been awhile . . . again since I last post. I have been still dealing with back problems and cleaning. This is my next big cleaning up project.

The clean stamps. I foresee a few slurpees and chocolates just to get through it. It is a complete mess.

Although a funny note is while I was sorting out my buttons, this truck button was stuck in this jar. I eventually got it out with a help from a friend. But still that question still remains, how the heck did it get in there if I can’t get it out. Good grief.

However I have participated in a few art exchanges. One was favourite quote on an ATC and we had to used a playing card. This was mine and the second one was the one I received from the exchanged. I went alittle overboard because I completely covered the playing card.

The quote is from Maya Angelou, “You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.”

These two are birthday cards for my nieces. I cannot believe one of them turned 18, ghee, it didn’t seem so long ago when she was playing with Barbie.

I did do a delivery for Koda’s Kountry for Easter. And please excuse my big toe in the shot

I have less than a week before the December craft sale in Bentley, and for some strange reason, I am feeling zen. I am not freaking out where my poor boyfriend has to talk me down. (And now, I am probably jinxing myself for this) I should be because I had less than a month to replaced all of the things that I sold. Cards are no problem, once I figure out the sketch and such, they take no time. But when it comes to hats, scarves, cowls and slippers, that takes a lot of time. But honestly, all I feel is tired and a little bored.

I have been reading these checklists on craft sales and I thought, what the heck, I show you mine. It is different from other people. But my advise, do of what you think is best.

Your products – trust me, this is the second year in a row where I forgotten something. Last year was the albums and last November, was the scrubbies.

Float – That can be store in a cookie tin, you do not need a fancy cash register. But I do recommended of bring a lot of small bills. People can buy a $3 card and pay it with a $20 bill and boom, there goes your float.

Calculator – except nowadays, it is on everyone’s cell phone, so you are cover.

Pen and Paper – to keep track of what you sold so you know of what to replace. And write down upcoming orders.

Business cards – They don’t cost much and heck, you can even do them on your own computer.

Snacks – in some places, they may not have a concession stand or you are unable to get to it

Plastic bags – One for your own personal garbage. And others to put your product in. I know some craft vendors have custom made plastic bags with their logos on it. I sadly do not. Mainly because I still come up with a logo which it is still driving me nuts.

Display items – Like tablecloths, shelves, boxes, signs. I recommended to do a mock display at your house so you know of what to do and what goes where.

Sweater/ Jacket – in case you get cold

Tylenol or Aspirin – sitting in a hard chair for 6 hours will hurt you

The sale came and went. It wasn’t my best sale, but it wasn’t the worst. Unless you asked my back, and it will tell you it was. Sitting in that hard chair for over 6 hours, despite the fact, that I did walk around and go to the bathroom. But I think I might have strained it because it was still hurting two days later. And I was taking some pretty heavy painkillers. I don’t like taking those painkillers unless I am in really bad pain. And I was.

What did me in, besides the chair, was there was a booth next to us. The ladies were selling cards for a $1. And yes, you are reading it right. So who wants to buy a $3 card where there are cards selling for a $1 each. I only sold one card.

I didn’t sell any dishcloths which I was surprised.

Then again, last year, I had 4 cards for $6 and 3 dishcloths for $5. And with the cost of material going up, I had to raised my prices.

A from the store in Bentley was happy that I was actually raising my prices. It is hard to figure out of the prices on cards. Sure, I can figure out the cost of paper and stickers. But when it comes to ink or a stamp. How do I factor in those costs. Obviously, I cannot throw in the price of an inkpad on every card.

But she wasn’t happy about those ladies. She told me that she always tried to sit people who are selling the same craft across the room. Not side by side. And she couldn’t believe that they were selling their cards for $1.

But I did get a bonus. A gave me an envelope punch. I’ve been dying to get my hands on one, but they are like $40. So I am happy and been waiting for a time to try it out. Also to send a picture to J to make her jealous. Petty, I know. But oh well, blame it on the painkillers. The problem is waiting until my back is better. I am still make a couple of cards. Besides it is a good excuse to try out the punch, but I have to bring some to my hairdresser next week. And make one for J, the fellow cardmaker. So yeah, no pressure.

I just thought I do a quick post here mainly because it is late and I am tired. I have 3 days left before the day. And Friday, I am packing the car early.

However I did finish one of the prizes this week. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the shawl, maybe next year. But if you do not mind me tooting my own horn. I am so proud of myself of this album. I REALLY want to keep it. Fortunately, I have enough paper and envelopes to make another one. Which that one will be mine.

I am hoping that I have enough tickets, I made 66 tickets and I have been told not to worried. Worst case scenario, we will just blank sheets of paper. Now I have to remember to bring paper as well. I will put that in my first aid kit.

I even made a draw box which I think it is cute. It is one of those Halloween treat boxes which I wrapped with Christmas paper. But I also enforced with duct tape and put a can of soup inside. I know that sound weird, but it will keep the box standing up.